Amazing Wildlife: A San Diego Zoo Podcast

Jaksot

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  A Special Conversation with Joan Embery 29.04.2026 39min

  This week, host Marco is speaking with someone whose legacy helped shape the way we take care of wildlife on this beautiful planet. As the first ambassador for the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, Joan Embery broke down barriers and helped define what it means to be a wildlife spokesperson. In this interview, she recalls her beginnings, the meaning of translational science, and some of her favorite animal moments. Tune in to hear a special conversation between two Wildlife Ambassadors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Cheetahs: The Purring Polka-Dotted Predator 26.12.2025 23min

  Earlier this month was International Cheetah Day, so this week, Marco is learning all about the world’s fastest land mammal. The Cheetah Conservation Center at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is one of 10 U.S. breeding facilities for the South African cheetah, and there is a lot that makes this species of feline so special. Tune in to learn about their cleat-like toenails, amazing vision, and how they are not quite a big or small cat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Horticulture at Elephant Valley: Important and Immersive 12.12.2025 19min

  The San Diego Zoo Safari Park doesn’t just have animals—it also has incredible plants! Last episode, we learned about elephants, and this week, we’re learning about their zoo habitat. Host Marco is speaking with Director of Horticulture Raj Brown about Elephant Valley and how his team creates a sense of immersion and place. Tune in to learn more about hot composting, force fields, and the meaning of “zookie.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Social Dynamics of Elephants 28.11.2025 23min

  This week Marco is visiting Elephant Valley to learn all about the world’s largest land mammal. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to eight elephants, and they are very social animals! These intelligent mammals are special in the way they interact with each other and our care specialists. Tune in to hear about their social dynamics and learn more about the new and improved Elephant Valley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Learning All About Gorillas — and Breaking Misconceptions 14.11.2025 28min

  Did you know the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to 11 gorillas? This week, Marco is going behind the scenes at the bachelor habitat to learn more about the “jock” of the great ape family. Tune in to discover how they obtain their silverbacks, how you can donate your old cell phone to support conservation efforts, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Camouflaged Okapi 24.10.2025 32min

  Last week was World Okapi Day, and to celebrate, hosts Rick and Marco are heading to the San Diego Safari Park to speak with Dallas Dumont and learn all about this strikingly striped mammal. While a relative of the giraffe, the okapi is not quite as tall but shares its prehensile tongue. Tune in to hear about the newest okapi addition to the zoo, the purpose of tucking, and how they use their large ears.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  World Cassowary Day 10.10.2025 32min

  World Cassowary Day is September 26th, so hosts Rick and Marco are headed to the cassowary habitat area in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to learn more about these incredible flightless birds. Today they’re speaking with Wildlife Care Specialist Anna Caranahan about their unique feathers, their large green eggs, and the benefits of their casques.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Wildlife Health Team—Crucial to Conservation 12.09.2025 31min

  Conservation is dynamic and deeply collaborative—and it takes many people across diverse disciplines to address the challenges facing wildlife. Hosts Rick and Marco speak with Hendrik Nollens, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s vice president of Wildlife Health, to learn how this team works to detect and prevent disease in wildlife and monitor their overall health. From California condors to mountain yellow-legged frogs and more, find out how the Wildlife Health team is helping increase many species’ chances of survival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Looking Back—and Forward: The Flight Path of the California Condor 29.08.2025 30min

  This week, host Rick speaks with senior wildlife care specialist Nora Willis about an iconic bird with a gigantic wingspan! In the 1980s, just over 20 California condors were left in the world, but through groundbreaking conservation efforts, there are now more than 500. Find out more about San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s successful breeding program, how young California condors learn to thrive in Southwest habitats, and the meaning of “puppet rearing.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Parrots in Pine Forests – Meet the Thick-Billed Parrot 15.08.2025 35min

  This week, hosts Rick and Marco are headed to Baja Garden in the San Diego Safari Park to speak with James Sheppard and Jenna Stallard about a brilliantly colored thick-billed parrot! While the thick-billed parrot used to be one of only two parrot species native to the United States, only a few remain in the wilds of Mexico. The San Diego Zoo is working with its partners in Mexico to restore the species, and the conservation efforts are making a difference. Tune in to learn more about their unique personalities, how the thick-billed parrot’s eating habits help forests and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Orchids: Resilient, Yet Endangered 31.07.2025 37min

  The San Diego Zoo is home to several critically endangered species, and not just animals. We’re talking about plants, too! This week, hosts Rick and Marco speak with Zoo Horticulture Manager Christy Powell and Senior Plant Propagator Heinfried Block about orchids. You can find orchids on every continent except Antarctica, however conditions need to be just right—including having a special fungus around. Find out how our team is saving, protecting, and caring for orchids, the importance of symbiosis, and how you can visit the Orchid House.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Elephant Conservation 18.07.2025 40min

  This week, hosts Rick and Marco speak with Dr. Kirstie Ruppert and Dr. Shifra Goldenberg about human and elephant conflict and coexistence. African elephants are invaluable to ecosystems and hold great cultural importance to Kenyans, but sometimes communities come into conflict with these giant mammals. Our guests talk about adaptability training and ways to balance the behavior of elephants and the needs of humans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Giant Panda Update 04.07.2025 25min

  California Panda Day is coming up on August 8th, so hosts Rick and Marco are headed to the Denny Sanford Panda Ridge to get an update on everyone’s favorite black and white bears at the San Diego Zoo. This week, they are speaking with Senior Wildlife Care Specialist Jessica Wagner about caring for Xin Bao and Yun Chuan. Tune in to learn about their pseudo thumbs, their behaviors, and how many pounds of food they can eat in a day (hint: it’s a lot)! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Giraffes: Long Necks, Long Legs, and a Long List of Amazing Adaptations 20.06.2025 35min

  Did you know the longest day of the year in the western hemisphere—June 21—is also World Giraffe Day? In this episode, hosts Rick and Marco visit giraffes on the savanna at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and speak with wildlife care specialist Natalie Sheridan to find out more about the world’s tallest land animal. Tune in to hear about adaptations that help giraffes thrive on the savannas of Africa, their unique behaviors, and the functions of their amazing spots.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Zoos, Conservation and the Przewalski's Horse 06.06.2025 29min

  Having never been successfully domesticated, the Przewalski's horse is the only true wild horse of our time. This week, hosts Rick and Marco are speaking with Amanda Lussier about the Przewalski's horse and how the species went from being extinct in the wild to having populations reintroduced in Mongolia. Tune in to learn more about these horses and how zoos, conservation work, and science are helping save these amazing horses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Curating the Coldest “Zoo” on Earth 23.05.2025 47min

  In this episode, hosts Rick and Marco are headed back to the Frozen Zoo® to speak with its curator, Marlys Houck. This first-of-its-kind biobank began with a cell, and over the past 50 years it has grown to be the most extensive collection of its kind in the world, preserving living cell lines of mammals, birds, reptiles, aquatic wildlife, plants, and more. Discover how the trailblazing Frozen Zoo is preserving hope for the future of life on Earth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Inspire and Empower Through Conservation Education 09.05.2025 26min

  Wildlife conservation starts with people—of all ages. In this episode, hosts Rick and Marco speak with Lisa Biasillo, vice president of wildlife education programs for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park have numerous programs that inspire and educate youths and adults, empowering them to become active in conservation so they can make a difference in their communities and around the world. Tune in to find out more about what they learn, and the importance of environmental literacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Flamingo Fact or Fiction? 25.04.2025 20min

  April 26 is International Flamingo Day! To celebrate, hosts Rick and Marco speak with Wildlife Care Specialist Erin Massey to learn more about these long-legged birds. Do their knees really bend backwards? Why do they stand on one leg, and why are most of them pink? Tune in to find out, and learn about their mud nests, how flamingo parents share incubation duties, and how even males can make a form of milk!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Founding the Frozen Zoo 11.04.2025 23min

  This year marks the 50th anniversary of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Frozen Zoo®. To learn about its history, hosts Rick and Marco speak with Rolf Benirschke, son of Frozen Zoo founder Kurt Benirschke. Rolf explains the events that inspired his father to start the Frozen Zoo, the creative ways we can all help conservation without being a scientist, and Rolf’s Kicks for Critters, a charity he started during his time in the NFL.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Digging in and Unearthing Fascinating Meerkat Facts 28.03.2025 26min

  Welcome back to Amazing Wildlife! We are kicking off season 4 by learning all about meerkats. In this episode, Marco and Rick learn how a specific type of stress can make a meerkat family a more cohesive and healthier group. Senior Wildlife Care Specialist Lacy Pearson tells us about eustress, meerkat mobs, and how these social animals learn to work together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.